Built-in tubular ash tray for chair arms



PI 17, 1951 c. MosHER ET Al. 2,549,114

BUILT-IN TUBULAR ASH TRAY FOR CHAIR ARMS Filed DBC, 3, 1947 PatentedApr. 17, 41951 ,i

BUILT-JNV TUBULR ASH TRAY FOR CHAIR ARMS Chester L. Mosher, Gardner, andRobert N. Owler,

Fitchburg, Mass.; assignors to Heywood-Wakefield Company, Gardner,Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 3, 1947,Serial No. 789,408

This invention consists in an improved ash tray constructed and arrangedto be incorporated into the arm of seats in trains, buses or airplanes,as well as in other chairs. The difficulties met in designing an ashtray for installations cf this type are numerous andthey have notheretofore successfully been overcome. The tray must be stable, free ofvibration in use and not subject to being upset. It must be easilyconcealed. It must be reproof. Its capacity must be ample, eliminatingthe necessity for frequent cleaning. And perhaps as important as anyother factor, the tray must be so devised that it may readily be emptiedand easily cleaned when that becomes necessary.

The tray of our invention has all these desirable features. It ischaracterized by a tubular casing in which is telescopically received aremovable container havingr a detachable bottom. The used container isconstructed and arranged so that it may be removed from the casing as acomplete unit with its contents undisturbed and then, upon detaching thebottom, the bore of the container is left free and clear so that the-debris may be quickly and completely dumped.

These and other features 4of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, selected for purposes of illustrationV and shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. lis a fragmentary view in perspective of a seat in one arm of whichthe tray is installed,

Fig. 2 is a view partly in perspective and partly in section of theassembled tray,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the forward portion of arm, showing theupper end of the tray and also the sliding cover for the same,

Fig. i4 is a longitudinal section of the lower end of the tray assembly,and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the detachable bottom of the inner sleeveand a fragmentary portion of the sleeve.

The ashtray is shown in Fig. l, as conveniently located in the arm of acar seat comprising a seat portion I0, a back II, and an arm I2. The armis hollow and has a top section I3 in which is an elongated opening I4,provided with sliding dome-shaped cover I5. As the drawing indicates,when the cover I5 is vpushed to the rear of the opening I4 the upper endof the tubular ash tray is exposed and available for use.

A more detailed View of the relative location of the tray with respectto the seat arm in Fig. 3 shows the dome cover I5 slid forward to 5Claims. (Cl. 2322-432) 2A closed position, this being the normallocation when the tray is not in use. Odors from ash and used cigarettesand the like are thus prevented from emerging, and a neat finishedappearance is secured. The bottom of the arm is formed by a horizontalsheet metal partition I1 as shown in Fig. 4. The casing of the tray maybe secured `in position within the arm by any convenient means as bytting friction tight within the hollow arm or by being spot welded toits side walls.

In Fig. 2 may be seen the assembled tray. The outer casing of the trayis a seamless sheet metal tube I6 of uniform diameter and open at itstop end. No bottom is shown in the tube illustrated, reference to Fig. 4showing sheet metal partition I'I serving as a bottom in the seatinstallation. However, optionally, the lower end of the tube may be spunto produce a bottom if it is desired to furnish the tray as aselfcontained unit. At approximately one-third the length of the tubefrom the bottom is located a fixed cross-pin I8.

The ash-receiving compartment of the tray is shown in Fig. 2 as an innersleeve I9, sufciently smaller in diameter to slide telescopically andsmoothly into the outer tube I6. The sleeve I9 is likewise of seamlessmetal tubing.v Its top end is also open, but soldered to the innersurface of the sleeve near the top are two stiff transverse wires 20constituting a snuffer for cigarettes and at the same time providing aconvenient grip for use in removal of the inner sleeve as will presentlyappear. One of these Wires is V-shape and the tips of the V areattachedto the wall of the tube at opposite points in its circumference.

T0 facilitate cleaning the bottom section 2|, the inner tube is madereadily detachable. Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the lower part of theinner sleeve I9 with the bottom section 2| shown as detached. Section 2lcomprises a short length of seamless tubing of the same diameter assleeve I9. Its lower end is open, but as can be seen in Fig. .4, theupper end is spun inwardly to form a solid top end. In opposite sides ofthe bottom extension section2I are bayonet slots 22 which are shaped toengage the cross pin I8, when the tray is assembled. Aiixed to the topof bottom extension section 2| by two screws is a metal disk 21.Similarly aiiixed and on the upper surface of the metal disk S21 is theU-shaped leaf spring 23 with upstanding arms in which are located thetwo studs 24 so designed as to t the holes 26 oppositely located in thesleeve I9.

Thus the bottom section 2| may be attached to the inner sleeve I9 bycompressing the arms of the leaf spring 23, sliding the spring into thetube I9 and permitting the studs 24 to engage the holes 26.

The method of assembling outer tube I6 and the inner sleeve i9 will nowbe described. Reference to Fig. 2 shows a coiled spring 25 contained inthe lower part of the outer tube I6. The lower end of the spring 25rests on the sheet metal partition |1, or on the bottom of Vthe tube isso formed, while to the upper end is fastened a ibre washer 28 by meansof a rivet. When the inner sleeve I8 is removed this bre :washer 28Ypresses against the cross pin |8. `Howeveras `.the inner Vsleeve |9 isforced downwardly into position withinthe outer tube I6, the lower edgeof the inner tube extension section 2| depresses the fibre washer 28against the action of the spring v25. As the section 2| is rotated in aclockwise direction, the cross pin |8 engaged'the `bayonet rslots 22.Further clockwise rotation serves to seat the cross ipin in theslots, asshown in Fig. 2. Upward pressure of the spring 25 (and the bre washer2'8) then holds section 2| with the slots 22 in yielding relationagainst the cross pin I8, preventing vibration of the assembled parts.It will be seen that removal of the ash compartment |9 is easilyeffected by gripping the snufer 28 and exerting slight downward pressureand twisting in a counter-clockwise direction to disengage the bayonetconnection', whereupon the sleeve i9 may be -freely withdrawn withoutdanger of spilling the debris contained therein.

The sleeve container at this stage is tightly 'closed by its bottom 2|and its upper end vis somewhat obstructed by the wires of the snuier. Inorder to empty andcleanit the 'bottom 2| is now detached by forciblytwisting it with respect to the sleeve AI9, whereupon the studs 24 willspring out of the holes 28 and the spring `23 may he freely withdrawnfrom the sleeve. The bore of the sleeve is now entirely clear and itscontents may be dumped through its open bottom end. Subsequently vthebottom may be snapped into place and the cleaned container returned toits initial position in the casing.

:Having thus disclosed our invention and described a preferredembodiment thereof in detail, we claim as new and desire to secure`byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. An-ash tray lioruse inthe arm'of acar seat or the like, comprising anouter tube containing a .spring in its lower end and having a cross-pinat an intermediate point in Vits length, va removable sleeve fittingwith said tube, a tubular extension detachably connected 'to the saidsleeve, a bottom plate blocking the said tubular eXtension, and bayonetslots inthe tubular extension below the said bottom plate arranged to beengaged with said cross pin, thereby compressing the lspring and causingvit to hold the sleeve against Vibration in the said outer tube.

2. A device of the class described, having in combination two tubes, oneslightly smaller ,in diameter so that it may slide into the largertube,the two tubes having respectively theelements wend, a cross pinretaining the said spring, an

inner tube/a detachable bottom insert for said Vinner tube having abayonet slot therein adapted to engage the said cross pin, and holdingthe said .inner tube in locking relationship with the said outer.tuberunder compression of the said spring.

4. An ash Ytraynr car chair arms comprising, anputer Ametal tube, aplate closing the bottom of the said outerV tube, a cross pintransversng the inside ofthe said outer tube at an intermedilate .point,in its length, a coil spring in the said outer tube between the saidbottom and the said crossV pin adapted -to remain in compression againstboth, -an inner tube adapted to t in close slidingrelation within thesaid -outer tube,.a detachable bottom for said inner tube comprising ashorttubular extension, a U-shaped leaf spring con-nectedvtc thesaiddetachable bottom, a projecting stud secured to each tip of said leafspring, the .said inner tube 'having holes (in its side walls and thesaid studs being vadapted Yto t therein, and bayonet slots in the -said.tubular extension of the-detachable bottom, whereby the inner tubemaybe inserted into the outer tube with the said tubular .extensioncompressing the coil spring and the bayonet slotseng-aging thecross pinto rmly hold the said inner tube against vibration with respect tothesaid outer tube.

5. An ash tray for use in the arm vof a car chair comprising an outertube, an inner tube fitting in -close `sliding relation therein, abottom extension for the said inner tube, a leaf spring secured to thesaid bottom'eXtension-and engaging thefsaid innerside of the inner tubeto connect the said bottom extension to the said inner tube, ka crosspin disposed within .the said outer Y tube, acompression-spring .in thesaid outer tube adapted to remain in compression against the said cross-pin and the said extension of the inner tube provided with a pairofbayonet slotswhereby the inner tube may be locked into the outer tube byengaging the said cross pin within thesaid bayonet-slots. Y

CHESTER L. MOSHER. .ROBERT N. OWLER.

REFERENCES CITED v Theollowing references kare of record in-'the le ofthis patent:

YUNITED STATES PATENTS .MMM

